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The Theater of Deception: Why March 19 is a Trench, Not a Truce
January 22, 2026
By Timothy Enongene - Guest Contributor
As we look forward to March 19, 2026, the Ambazonian struggle finds itself at a critical psychological crossroads. For the thousands languishing in the overcrowded cells of Kondengui, New Bell, and other detention centers, and for the millions watching from the ground, this date has been weaponized by the Yaoundé regime as a tool of political exhaustion.
The day marks the scheduled final verdict by the Cameroon Supreme Court for the Nera 10. Following a rigorous three-hour procedural battle on Thursday, January 15, 2026, lead defense counsels Barrister Eta Besong Jr. and Akere Muna challenged the very foundation of the 2019 life sentences. They argued a fundamental point of law: that the leaders were never properly arraigned, with nine of the ten never even given the chance to plead guilty or not guilty.
A Retrospect of Deception: "C’est la Fin de l’Ambazonie"
To understand the gravity of March 19, we must look back to January 5, 2018, when Sisiku Ayuk Tabe and nine others were extraordinarily renditioned from Abuja, Nigeria to Cameroun. At that time, the La République du Cameroun press and social media platforms celebrated with arrogance, declaring "C’est la fin de l’Ambazonie" (This is the end of Ambazonia). They believed that by kidnapping the leadership, they had decapitated the movement.
Yet, eight years later, the struggle persists. It is only because of the relentless fight on the ground and in the diaspora that these leaders remain alive and the regime is forced into this judicial theater.
Image (above); NERA 10 Victims/ Credit: Ambazonia Archives
The international community has not remained silent; the Federal High Court in Abuja has since ruled that the abduction was illegal and unconstitutional. The Nigerian court explicitly ordered the Nigerian government to return the Nera 10 to Nigeria, stating they had committed no crime to warrant such an abduction and that their forced removal violated the principle of non-refoulement. Despite these clear legal mandates, the Biya regime continues to hold them as political pawns.
Aligning with the Call for Vigilance
In his 2026 New Year Address, Dr. Samuel Sako emphasized that the release of prisoners is "not a concession," but a mandatory step that must precede any meaningful dialogue. He warned that the regime often uses the prison system to "recruit agents of compromise," urging Ambazonians to judge every prisoner by their deeds after release.
As the Supreme Court considers its ruling, our people must bridge the gap in understanding: if you are in prison for this cause, you are a Prisoner of War (POW). The regime does not see "Prisoners of Conscience"—they see a singular threat to their sovereignty. The Nera 10, despite being men of letters and diplomacy, were hauled before a Military Tribunal and treated as high-value enemy combatants. This proves that in the eyes of the oppressor, the thinker is as dangerous as the fighter.
Conclusion: The Courtroom is Just Another Trench
The adjournment to March 19 is a tactical delay intended to defuse tension in a volatile post-election period. For the prisoner and the patriot, the Supreme Court of Cameroon is not an impartial arbiter; it is another front in an ongoing war.
As we approach this date, our call to action is vigilance. We must not wait for "justice" from the headquarters of our oppressor. The struggle continues—unabated, unified, and unafraid—until total and unconditional independence is achieved.
We draw strength from the legacy of Harriet Tubman, the "Moses" of her people, who escaped the chains of slavery only to return nineteen times into the heart of danger to lead others to the promised land. She knew that freedom was not a gift from the master, but a divine right to be seized. She famously stated: "I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive."
Ambazonians, let this be our creed! The walls of Kondengui are high, but the spirit of a people determined to be free is higher. Do not be distracted by the gavels of Yaoundé; our victory is written in our persistence, not their decrees. The road is long, but the destination is certain.
Eyes on the prize, hearts on the front, and feet on the path to Buea!
The struggle continues - Let's fight as if we are just beginning.
Also Read:
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"OP-ED: They Planned the War. They Lost the War. And They Will Lose the Future."
"OP-ED: Leadership in Captivity: Lessons from Venezuela, Ambazonia, and Nelson Mandela's Legacy"
"Trump-Ordered U.S. Strike In Northwest Nigeria Sends Shockwaves Across The Gulf of Guinea"
" U.S. Diplomatic Withdrawal Shakes Africa: Cameroon Braces for Impact"
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